Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2009 - 2010
This information is provisional and subject to change.

Module Title	Compiler Construction 1
Module Code	CA448
School	Computing
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Dr Geoff Hamilton	Office Number	L2.55
Level	4	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None

Module Aims

The aims of this module are: 7 To give students a comprehensive grounding in the techniques used in the front end of compilers. 7 To give an overview of the different phases of the front end of a compiler. 7 To study lexical analysis, syntax analysis (top-down and bottom-up) and semantic analysis in detail.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of this module, students will have a good understanding of the following: 7 The function of the different phases of a compiler. 7 Lexical analysis techniques. 7 Top-down and bottom-up parsing algorithms. 7 Semantic analysis techniques. 7 Implementing interpreters.

Indicative Time Allowances
	Hours
Lectures	24
Tutorials	0
Laboratories	0
Seminars	51
Independent Learning Time	0

Total	75
Placements
Assignments

NOTE

Assume that a 5 credit module load represents approximately 75 hours' work, which includes all teaching, in-course assignments, laboratory work or other specialised training and an estimated private learning time associated with the module.

Indicative Syllabus

Students will study the following:· Structure of a compiler· Languages and grammars· Lexical analysiso Regular expressionso DFAso Regular grammarso Conversion of regular expressions to DFAso Implementation of lexical analysers· Syntax analysiso Context-free grammarso Derivationso Precedenceo Ambiguity· Top-down parsingo Predictive parsingo Conversion of grammars to predictive formo Recursive descent parsingo LL(1) parsingo Constructing LL(1) parsing tableso Error recoveryo Implementation of top-down parsers· Bottom-up parsingo Handleso Shift-reduce parsingo LR parsingo Constructing LR(0) parsing tableso Constructing SLR(1) parsing tableso Constructing LR(1) parsing tableso Constructing LALR(1) parsing tableso Error recoveryo Implementation of bottom-up parsers· Semantic analysiso Context-sensitive analysiso Intermediate representationso Semantic actionso Incorporating semantic actions in top-down parserso Incorporating semantic actions in bottom-up parserso Implementing interpreterso Attribute grammarso Evaluating attributes in top-down parserso Evaluating attributes in bottom-up parserso Type checking

Assessment
Continuous Assessment	30%	Examination Weight	70%

Indicative Reading List

Essential Andrew W. Appel, Modern Compiler Implementation in Java, Cambridge University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-521-58388-8SupplementaryAlfred V. Aho, Ravi Sethi and Jeffrey D. Ullman, Compilers: Principles, Techniques and Tools, Addison-Wesley, 1986, ISBN 0-201-10194-7

Programme or List of Programmes

BSSA

Study Abroad (DCU Business School)

BSSAO

Study Abroad (DCU Business School)

ECSA

Study Abroad (Engineering & Computing)

ECSAO

Study Abroad (Engineering & Computing)

HMSA

Study Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)

HMSAO